Chapter 15

“How did you know it was me?”

“Because of your clothes. And I saw you too when Logan carried you in.”

At that completely calm answer, Astan’s thoughts grew even more tangled. As though asking whether there was anything else he wanted to ask, she tilted her head slightly.

“Then I suppose there’s no need to say more.”

“About what?”

“…….”

About what kind of person I am, and what the secret I tried so hard to hide was.

The words he could not bring himself to say stabbed at his throat like thorns. He could not speak them aloud himself, but Astan had never once forgotten that he was a monster.

Every month, whenever the full moon came, and whenever he looked at the bracelet binding him like shackles, he was reminded of the curse laid upon him.

Because it was the punishment Astan von Schultzmeyer, who had killed his mother and father, rightfully deserved.

When Astan could not bring himself to speak, Gloria spoke instead.

“I heard from Logan. About that…… curse.”

“……If you heard, then you already know everything.”

“I want to hear it from you directly, Your Grace.”

“…….”

“Please tell me.”

Gloria looked straight at him with an unwavering gaze.

It felt as though his throat were burning up. But there was no way to avoid it. With difficulty, Astan forced the answer out.

“There’s nothing more to explain. It’s exactly what you saw. I was cursed by the Sikun, and because of that, I turn into a monster whenever the full moon rises. Like last night.”

“Not that.”

Gloria shook her head as though that was not the answer she wanted.

“Why won’t you talk about what’s important?”

“…….”

“I broke it, didn’t I? Your curse.”

Gloria said, holding his gaze.

“……It was a coincidence.”

“No, it wasn’t.”

“It was. It was supposed to break around today anyway.”

At his attitude, as though denying the miracle Gloria had brought about, she pushed her lips out in displeasure.

“Then shall we try it one more time? To see whether it really was just a coincidence?”

“That’s enough, so stop sticking your lips out.”

“Then please answer honestly. Was it really supposed to break today?”

“……Not today. Around the day after tomorrow.”

“See? Even you admit it.”

Her soft eyes curved all the way. Astan let out a troubled sigh.

“Don’t ever do something like that again.”

“Why?”

“Just don’t.”

“You’ll have to tell me why I shouldn’t before I can even think about it.”

“That’s…….”

Because it is enough for only me to suffer because of the curse.

Knowing well what kind of ending awaited a woman entangled with one who was cursed, he could not accept this miracle as mere good fortune.

It might be good fortune for him, but it would not be for Gloria.

“Because it would be troublesome if you used it as leverage to demand that I marry you.”

“Oh my? But it was you who sent the proposal letter, Your Grace.”

“How many times do I have to tell you that I didn’t send it?”

“Even so, the seal stamped on the proposal letter was yours, Your Grace…….”

“I’d like to rest some more, so I’d appreciate it if you would leave now.”

“……All right. Once you’ve fully recovered, let’s finish this conversation.”

Gloria left the room with a dejected expression. Only after confirming that the door had closed did Astan finally let out a long breath.

He could not tell whether he ought to laugh or cry.

* * *

“We should place a sword outside the castle gate as well.”

The next morning, Colin, who had come to change his bandages, suddenly spoke. Astan looked at the old butler as though he were absurd and said,

“If I were holding a sword while under the curse, everyone in this castle would be massacred.”

“Ahem.”

Realizing he had misspoken, Colin gave a dry cough and changed the subject.

“Even so, it is an immense relief that things turned out no worse than this.”

Colin said this while inspecting his wounds. Claw marks like those made by talons had decorated the center of his chest beautifully. They were wounds severe enough that it would not have been strange if an ordinary person had died.

“There may be scars left behind.”

“One more among so many won’t make any difference.”

At the blunt reply, Colin looked at Astan with sympathy. Even if he had lived with wounds since childhood because of his cursed fate, that did not mean he could not feel pain. Yet his master’s patience was excessive.

Clicking his tongue, Colin carefully applied the medicine. Every time the disinfectant touched the wounds, intense pain shot through his body. To forget the pain, Astan changed the subject.

“What happened to the Sikun?”

“It was already almost dead from what you had done to it, Your Grace. We only cut off its last breath and brought it back to the castle.”

“There weren’t any others?”

“There was only one. It is not yet the weather for Sikun to be wandering about.”

Setting down the medicine jar and picking up the bandages, Colin looked out the window at the snowstorm and continued.

“When we cut open its belly, its stomach was empty. It seems it came all the way here in search of food.”

“Where did it come in?”

“Judging by the damaged northern wall, I think it must have entered from there. It seems to have collapsed because of the snow, so I ordered them to spread blood and repair it.”

At the flawless answer, Astan nodded. Wrapping the bandages skillfully, Colin smiled.

“In any case, congratulations, Your Grace. You have finally found her.”

“…….”

“Now I can finally face the late Duke without shame, so even if I die, I will have no regrets.”

“What nonsense.”

“What do you mean, nonsense? Is she not the very one you have waited for all this time?”

Tears welled at the corners of his wrinkled eyes.

“Even if we had searched the whole continent and brought her here, it would not have been enough, yet she came here of her own accord. How could that be anything but a blessing?”

“Colin.”

Astan’s voice showed his displeasure. But the seasoned butler saw right through the young Duke’s feelings.

“You have no idea how worried the young lady has been.”

“…….”

“She could not sleep, she skipped her meals, and she kept asking where you was. Watching her, it felt as though my own insides were burning.”

“…….”

“It pained me that I could not tell her anything, so I cannot say how grateful I am that everything can now be laid out in the open like this.”

Sniff. Colin wiped his nose with his sleeve as he spoke.

“Now if the two of you would only hold a wedding, I too could close my eyes in peace…….”

“That will never happen. And don’t you dare say such things in front of that woman.”

“Your Grace. There is no reason for you to refuse. You are only now, at last, able to be freed from the curse.”

“Did I not make myself clear? I have no intention of marrying.”

Astan shot back sharply. But Colin did not retreat.

“Your Grace, it is foolish to pretend not to see a way when one exists. You may feel guilty for the time being, but to let such a good opportunity slip away because of that…….”

“Colin! What in the world have you been taking my words for all this ti…… Ugh.”

Perhaps because he had become agitated, the tightly wrapped bandages dug into his wounds. At the unbearable pain, Astan bent forward. Just as he was trying to steady his breathing and calm the pain,

“Your Grace!”

Bang! Before he could even straighten, Gloria flung the door open and came rushing in.

“Are you all right? What happened? Nothing’s wrong, is it? Is it?”

The woman who had burst in without warning frantically felt all over his bandaged body as she questioned him.

“W-What is it all of a sudden?”

“Untie the bandages a little. Let me check if you’re all right.”

“I-I’m fine, so stop touching me!”

“Don’t lie. If it hurts, just say it hurts.”

“I really am fine.”

“That’s strange. I’m sure I heard the bracelet go ‘jiiiing—’ just now…….”

“The bracelet?”

Astan’s gaze fell to Gloria’s wrist. She held it up for him to see. The bracelet that should have been on Logan’s wrist was now wrapped around her slender one.

“Why are you wearing the bracelet?”

“Logan gave it to me.”

“What?”

* * *